The Species:

Flooring Trade Name: Kempas

Botanical Name: Koompassia, malaccensis

Lumber Name: Kempas

Grows In: South East Asia

Products / Kempas

Description:

Kempas is a course grained, very hard, red colored wood that is widely used for flooring in the Far East.

Color Range & Color Change:

Color Range: Kempas offers a wide range of color variability from pink colors to medium rose colors through to darker red colors.

Color Change: Kempas undergoes a medium degree of muting of the color range over time and a slight darkening to a medium reddish color.

Hardness:

Kempas is 135% as hard as red oak ( 1710 on the Janka scale vs. 1260 for red oak )

Where to Use:

Kempas may be used both residentially and commercially wherever a medium reddish colored wood is desired.

Stability:

Kempas is less stable than red oak and in very dry climates prone to shrinking. Care must be taken to properly equalize this specie before installation.

Allergic Reaction Potential:

There are no allergic reactions specifically known for Kempas at this time. However, wood dust in general can be a hazard.

Known Finish Issues:

There are no known finish compatibility issues with Kempas at this time. However, ALWAYS test the finish you propose to use FIRST on test pieces to insure compatibility.